Multi-functional metal fabrication glove

ABSTRACT

Multifunctional liners and gloves that include impact-, cut- and flame/heat-resistant yarns and, optionally, flame/heat-resistant coatings, as well as methods for manufacturing liners and gloves, are disclosed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of the priority of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 61/768,784, filed on Feb. 25, 2013; which isincorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field on the Invention

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to knittedarticles and, more particularly, to knitted liners in the shape ofgloves that have one or more yarns in one or more selected zones of theknitted liners to provide a balance of enhanced impact-, cut-, andheat-resistance while maintaining tactility and dexterity, and knittedliners having heat- and/or flame-resistant polymeric coatings disposedthereon.

2. Description of the Related Art

Gloves are used in many settings to protect the hands of users.Furthermore, many gloves are designed to embody specific properties forspecific industrial applications, for example, cut resistant yarns inknitted liners and gloves comprising knitted liners, for use by thosewho uses knives, saws, and the like. However, many users have multipleneeds. For example, a metalworker, such as a welder, may need glovesthat provide heat-resistance as well as cut-resistance. In particular,some welders perform very intricate but high-heat welding and,therefore, dexterity is desirable.

Designing gloves for such applications can be challenging because, forexample, some properties, such as dexterity and tactility come at theexpense of cut-resistance, heat-resistance, and durability. Also, pastattempts by glove designers have used expensive, top grain leathers toprovide feel and dexterity. Leathers used in these designs havegenerally been thin and, therefore, have inadequately protected users.Moreover, leather gloves are cut and sewn, and typically have seams onthe inside of the fingerstalls, which creates gloves that are bulky andstiff. And, the stitches can be easily broken or burned, compromisingthe durability of the glove. Furthermore, past gloves do not managemoisture and/or perspiration adequately. If a glove is wet, electricshocks are possible. Moreover, a wet glove that becomes tight againstthe skin of the user, for example, from tightly grabbing a hotworkpiece, creates pressure and runs the risk of flashing the moistureinto steam, creating another burn hazard.

Additionally, for welding processes, one hand often performs a functiondifferent than that of the other hand, requiring different types ofprotection. Welders must then wear gloves that are over- orunder-engineered for each hand or change gloves often during variousactivities, which is a sub-optimal practice.

Metalworkers need to protect their hands from cuts and extreme heat.Also, welders experience spatter from the liquid metals, i.e.,“berries,” during welding processes. Furthermore, welding processessubject the welder, and the gloves of the welder, to ultraviolet light,which can degrade the gloves. Therefore, gloves offering protection fromthese hazards are needed.

There are several types of welding processes. Among these processes areTungsten Inert Gas (TIG), Metal Inert Gas (MIG), and Metal Active Gas(MAG). Welders performing these welding processes have particular needsfrom gloves that are even more demanding than for conventional stickand/or flexrod welding. MIG welding, which employs a welding gun havinga trigger, require lighter gloves than for stick welding. By way ofexample, MIG welders place a hand, the “support” hand, against aworkpiece to be welded while the other hand, the “torch” hand,manipulates the trigger and performs the welding. The support hand istherefore in contact with metal in close proximity to the welding arc.Therefore, the support hand becomes extremely hot from the radiant heatof the arc while the torch hand needs enhanced dexterity. Gloves for MIGwelders, which are typically cowhide or other types of leather, tend tobe much heavier and bulkier to protect the welder from high-heats, atthe expense of versatility, dexterity, and tactility.

TIG welding processes are used for slower, more intricate, high-qualityand, in particular, alloy welds in which appearance of the weld is oftencritical, such as for bicycles, motorcycles, aerospace, and navalapplications. TIG welding is akin to a high-heat soldering process. Inother words, a TIG welder holds a torch in one hand and filler rod inthe other, which is fed manually by the welder, requiring great care andprecision. Therefore, TIG welders require precise control for both thetorch hand and the rod hand (the hand holding the filler rod). Also, TIGwelding typically requires continuous weld runs and once the weld isstarted, it cannot be stopped because the quality of the weld willsuffer. In addition, the welds created by TIG welding processes areoften thinner, used to join thinner materials, and requires considerableskill and attention to detail. Therefore, gloves for each hand of theTIG welder must offer comfort as well as dexterity and tactility.Furthermore, welders often perform different types of welding in a dayand therefore have different needs, resulting in switching gloves duringthe day. If the gloves are not changed, the welder may use a glove thatis inappropriate for a task. For example, if a welder uses the lighterTIG welding gloves for a MIG job, the gloves will wear quicker as wellas inadequately protect the welder from higher heat.

In addition to welding, welders often perform other ancillarymetalworking tasks, including oxy-acetylene torch cutting, plasmacutting, and laser cutting, as well as grinding, brazing, andheat-treating, such as annealing, during which extremely hightemperatures and sparks may be encountered. Therefore, welders requiregloves having the impact- and cut-resistance that all metalworkers needin order to enhance safety. And, the TIG, MIG, and MAG welder needs aglove offering enhanced dexterity and tactility as well as high-heat andflame-resistance.

With the foregoing in view, providing a glove having an enhanced balanceof desirable properties, tailored to and addressing the needs of variousregions of the gloves, for all functional service requirements, i.e.,high-heat and flame-resistance, cut-resistance, and flexibility, wouldrepresent an advance in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Multifunctional gloves comprising impact-, cut-, andflame/heat-resistant yarns and/or flame/heat-resistant coatings inaccordance with the present invention, substantially as shown in and/ordescribed in connection with at least one of the figures, as set forthmore completely in the claims, are disclosed. Various advantages,aspects, and novel features of the present disclosure, as well asdetails of an exemplary embodiment thereof, will be more fullyunderstood from the following description and drawings.

It is to be understood that the application uses the terms glove andknitted liner interchangeably. Some knitted gloves may be used as aglove while some gloves indicate a knitted liner having a polymericcoating or other features adhered thereto, such as a leather patch ordifferent types of insulating members, or disposed thereon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

So that the manner in which the above recited features of the presentinvention can be understood in detail, a more particular description ofthe invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference toembodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. Itis to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate onlytypical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to beconsidered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to otherequally effective embodiments. It is to be understood that elements andfeatures of one embodiment may be in other embodiments without furtherrecitation and that, where possible, identical reference numerals havebeen used to indicate comparable elements that are common to the figuresor embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 1 depicts a knitted liner according to some embodiments of theinvention;

FIG. 2 depicts a cut away view of a horizontal element of the knittedliner of FIG. 1, in accordance with embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 3 depicts a cut away view of a vertical element of the knittedliner of FIG. 1, according to embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 4 depicts a plan view of the palm side of the knitted liner, inaccordance with embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 5 depicts a plan view of the backhand side of the knitted liner ofFIG. 4, in accordance with embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a backhand view of a right-handed glove comprising a knittedliner with a polymeric coating disposed thereon, in accordance withembodiments of the invention;

FIG. 7 depicts a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 of a flap ofthe glove of FIG. 6, in accordance with embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 8 depicts a glove, in accordance with embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 9 depicts a cross section taken along line 9-9 of the glove of FIG.8, in accordance with embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 10 depicts a cross section taken along line 10-10 of the crosssection of the glove depicted in FIG. 9, in accordance with embodimentsof the invention; and

FIG. 11 depicts an overglove, in accordance with embodiments of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present invention comprise a knitted liner having atleast two different yarns. A first yarn exhibits a desired property,such as cut-resistance, and a second yarn exhibits a second desiredproperty, for example, heat-resistance and is optionally knitted intodifferent zones of the glove or liner than the first yarn. For example,a zone may be an upper palm, lower palm, upper backhand, lower backhand,fingers, thumb, or cuff zone. Knitted liners and gloves comprisingknitted liners in accordance with embodiments of the invention may alsospecify different yarns for other properties, such as flame-resistance,moisture-control, chemical resistance, flexibility, impact-resistance,abrasion-resistance, and other desirable properties imparted by variousyarns, blended yarns having several of the foregoing properties, and/orstructures thereof.

Also, embodiments of the present invention comprise knitted liners andgloves that can be fabricated using vertical knit techniques. In otherwords, the courses or loops of the knitted liner run along alongitudinal axis of the knitted liner or glove, for example, from acuff portion of a knitted liner to a fingertip portion. Additionally, aknitted liner or glove may comprise knitted courses that include bothvertically and horizontally knitted courses.

Moreover, additional yarns and/or layers may be knitted using plaitedstructures, i.e., two yarns stitched within the same stitch for at leastone course or more, to provide reinforcements or different properties incertain regions of the glove. And, any of the yarns may comprisedifferent colors to provide visual recognition of specific properties.For example, a user can be made aware that a yellow yarn indicatescut-resistance while a black yarn indicates heat-resistance. A user canchoose a glove having those properties in areas of the glove as neededfor a specific task. More appropriately, though, the user now has theoption of using one glove for all welding and other metalworking tasks,despite the competing properties of impact-, heat/flame-, cut-resistanceand tactility and dexterity. This is an important advance in the artbecause personal protection equipment, such as gloves, is only useful ifworn. Because of embodiments of the present invention, all welders needonly one type of glove for all welding and metalworking tasks andactivities if care is taken to choose an appropriate knitted liner orglove comprising a knitted liner.

As described above, the knitted liner or glove may comprise one or moreyarns, and may include one or more plaited layers. A glove may beknitted by conventional knitting processes and comprise various yarns ofvarious deniers and gauges. Gloves in accordance with embodiments of theinvention may be knitted using automatic seamless glove knittingmachines. Seamless glove knitting machines include, but are not limitedto, models NSFG, NSFG-I, SFG-1, and SWG by Shima Seiki Mfg., Ltd. Glovesknitted with the courses running vertically are knitted using a singlewhole garment machine, such as the SWG machine model manufactured byShima Seiki Mfg., Ltd.

Knitted liners and gloves in accordance with embodiments of theinvention comprise several yarns, such as, but not limited to, cotton,wool, rayon, steel wire, glass fibers, filaments, ultra-high molecularweight polyethylene yarns, such as DYNEEMA® and SPECTRA®, nylons,modacrylic yarns, oxidized-polyacrylonitrile (OPAN), meta-aramids, suchas NOMEX®, para-aramids, such as KEVLAR® and TWARON®, aromaticpolyesters, such as VECTRAN®, and the like or any blend of the fibersand materials. Any yarn may comprise one or more yarns, such as can becreated by ring spun, rotor spun, friction spun, braiding, and otherprocesses for blending yarns. Some yarns may be used for cut-resistance,such as steel wire, glass fibers, filaments, ultra-high molecular weightpolyethylene, NOMEX®, TWARON®, KEVLAR®, and DYNEEMA®. Other yarnsprovide dexterity and fit properties, such as stretchable yarns, forexample, SPANDEX® and LYCRA®. Yarns capable of moisture management,i.e., highly wicking yarns, such as STA-COOL® polyesters, HYDROTEC®,AQUARIUS®, and DRYENERGY®, may be included to withdraw moisture andperspiration from the skin, which also provide comfort. Furthermore,moisture and perspiration controlling yarns comprise antimicrobialagents, which are helpful in attenuating odors and/or preventing woundsand burns from becoming infected. Anti-microbial agents comprise surfaceor topical coatings applied on the yarn, such as silane quaternaryammonium and/or N-Halamine compounds. Elemental silver andsilver-releasing compounds are also used. Additionally, silver compoundsor other anti-microbial additives, such as TRICLOSAN® may be added andextruded within the thread or filament.

Also, some yarns, for example, OPAN, such as PANOX®, and ARSELON®,provide enhanced heat-resistance. Also, additional cut resistant layersmay be plaited with a main body yarn of a heat-resistant yarn, toprovide heat- and cut-resistance in the same region of a liner or glove.The additional cut resistant layer may include, as indicated above,steel wire, glass fibers, filaments, ultra-high molecular weightpolyethylene, nylons, NOMEX®, TWARON®, KEVLAR®, DYNEEMA®, SPECTRA®,VECTRAN®, and the like or any blend of these fibers and materials.

FIG. 1 depicts a knitted liner according to some embodiments of theinvention. The knitted liner 100 comprises a thumb 102, an index finger104, a middle finger 106, a ring finger 108, and a pinky finger 110, anupper palm 114, a lower palm 116, and, optionally, a cuff 112. Theknitted liner 100, as in all embodiments of liners and gloves disclosedherein, comprises an opening for receiving a hand of wearer. In thethumb 102, the fingers 104, 106, 108, 110 and the upper palm 114, thecourses of the knitted liner run laterally or, in other words,perpendicular to a longitudinal axis 122 of the knitted liner 100. Inlower palm 116, the courses of the knitted liner 100 run along, orparallel to, the longitudinal axis 122 of the knitted liner 100.

FIG. 2 depicts a cut away view of a horizontal element 120 of theknitted liner 100 of FIG. 1, in accordance with embodiments of theinvention. The element 120 shows three yarns 150, 160, and 170intermeshing in loops to form courses 172, 174, and 176 of knittedstitches in a horizontal knitted orientation.

FIG. 3 depicts a cut away view of a vertical element 130 of the knittedliner 100 of FIG. 1, according to embodiments of the invention. Thevertical element 130 is taken from lower palm 116. The vertical element130 shows three yarns 180, 182, and 184 intermeshing in loops to formcourses 186, 188, and 190 of knitted stitches in a vertical knittedorientation. Although FIGS. 1-3 depict the knitted liner 100 wherein theupper palm 114 and fingers comprise horizontal courses and the lowerpalm 116 having vertical courses, in practice, any finger, thumb, palm,or other region of the knitted liner 100, or any glove comprising theknitted liner 100, may comprise vertical and/or horizontal courses.

Gloves and/or knitted liners in accordance with embodiments of theinvention may be specified for specific end uses. For example, a gloveor knitted liner intended for use by a TIG welder may include acut-resistant yarn in one region of the glove or knitted liner and aheat- and/or flame-resistant yarn in another region. Furthermore,because each hand of a TIG welder is performing a different function, aglove or knitted liner for each hand may be tailored to the function.For example, the glove or knitted liner for the hand holding the torchmay comprise a cut-resistant yarn in one region, such as the indexfinger and middle finger. However, in the support hand, the glove orknitted liner comprises a cut-resistant yarn in a different region.

FIG. 4 depicts a plan view of the palm side of a knitted liner 200, inaccordance with embodiments of the invention. The knitted liner 200comprises an upper palm 214, lower palm 218, a thumb 202, an indexfinger 204, a middle finger 206, a ring finger 208, and a little finger210. The knitted liner 200 optionally comprises a cuff 212. In someembodiments according to the present invention, the thumb 202, the indexfinger 204, the middle finger 206 comprise a KEVLAR® yarn forcut-resistance while the ring finger 208 and the little finger 210comprise an OPAN yarn, for heat- and flame-resistance, as is disclosedin commonly-assigned U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/735,881,filed Dec. 11, 2012, which is herein incorporated by reference in itsentirety. In some embodiments of the invention, the thumb 202, the indexfinger 204, the middle finger 206, the ring finger 208 and the littlefinger 210 as well as the upper palm 214 are all knitted with a similardenier yarn with a 15 gauge needle, for example. In other embodiments,the thumb 202, the index finger 204, the middle finger 206 may beknitted with a 15 gauge needle and the ring finger 208 and the littlefinger 210 as well as the upper palm 214 knitted with, for example, a 6gauge needle or vice-versa.

Also, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, theknitted liner 200 may comprise vertical courses, as discussed above, inthe entirety of the knitted liner 200. Therefore, part of the upper palm214 comprises a KEVLAR® yarn (the lighter colored yarn in the indexfinger 204, the middle finger 206, and the thumb 202 regions and underwhile the upper palm 216, near the little finger 210 and the ring finger208, comprises an OPAN yarn (the darker colored yarn). Also, because ofthe vertical courses, a borderline 222, connecting the OPAN and KEVLAR®yarns can, but need not, embody a non-linear line. As shown, theborderline 222 is parabolic. In embodiments of this type, a user canprotect the fingers from cuts while, the little finger and the side ofthe palm (in interface between the palm side and back hand side alongthe little finger) comprises the heat-resistant OPAN yarn, protectingfrom burns from a hot cutting surface.

FIG. 5 depicts a plan view of the backhand side of the knitted liner 200of FIG. 4, in accordance with embodiments of the invention. The backhandside of the knitted liner 200 has the thumb 202, the index finger 204,the middle finger 206, the ring finger 208, the little finger 210 andthe cuff 212. In this embodiment of the present invention, a yarncomprising a para-aramid and/or meta-aramid fiber is on the samefeatures as on the palm side of the knitted liner 200. Also, the OPANyarn may be within the same features as on the palm side of the knittedliner 200. However, as discussed above, this need not be the case.Because of the vertical courses, the backhand of the glove couldcomprise different yarns in different regions of the knitted liner 200.For example, in the knitted liner 200, on the backhand side, theborderline 224 embodies a completely distinct pattern than theborderline 222 on the palm side of the knitted liner 200. The borderline224 on the backhand side has a parabolic portion in an upper back handportion 226 and transfers into a stepped function in a lower backhandportion 228. Programming instructions for knitting at least oneexemplary embodiment of the invention, such as FIGS. 4-5, using aShima-Seiki SWG model machine, are shown in Table 1.

Additionally, in embodiments of the present invention, gloves knittedwith programmable knitting machines of the SWG model, manufactured byShima Seiki, may switch from knitting vertical courses to horizontalcourses easily and on-the-fly, i.e., real-time control over the needles,knit patterns as desired and modify the patterns so that patterns ofseveral different types using different yarns can be created, allowingvaried glove designs having different physical and chemical propertiesin any desired region of the glove. In other words, many multifunctionalgloves or liners can be created without additional knitting processes.Moreover, before the present invention, it was required to invert aglove so that the courses that run horizontally on an exterior of aglove would run vertically on the exterior. Because of vertical courseknitting in accordance with the present invention, inversion is nolonger necessary. Gloves having vertical courses on the interior allowgloves to be donned with less friction against the hand of the user.Also, importantly, if a glove is compromised by burning embers of metal,i.e., “berries,” the wearer can remove the glove much easier,contributing to safety. The knitted liner 200 of FIGS. 4-5, optionally,may comprise additional features for different safety functions, forexample, a polymeric coating.

FIG. 6 is a backhand view of a right-handed glove comprising a knittedliner 300 with a polymeric material 330 disposed thereon, in accordancewith embodiments of the invention. The glove 300 comprises a knittedliner 301, which includes a thumb 302, an index finger 304, a middlefinger 306, a ring finger 308, a little finger 310, and a reversibleflap 334, described more fully below, any of which may be knitted from acut-resistant yarn, such as a para-aramid fiber, such KEVLAR® and/or aheat-resistant yarn, such as OPAN as well as other yarns. The knittedliner 301 may be entirely plaited, i.e., have two layers comprising twoyarns in the same stitches throughout the knitted liner 301.Alternatively, KEVLAR®, or another cut-resistant yarn, may be specifiedfor one or more regions of the glove, e.g., any finger, thumb, palm,backhand, cuff, etc., and, similarly, OPAN may be specified for anyregion. OPAN, in addition to providing heat-resistance, also providesmoisture management, wicking water or sweat away from the skin,increasing comfort and improving shock- and flash-resistance, asdiscussed above.

The glove 300 also optionally comprises a cuff 332, which comprises anelastic yarn, such as SPANDEX® or LYCRA®. In some embodiments of theinvention, the glove 300 has a polymeric, elastomeric, or latex material330 disposed on the knitted liner 301. The polymeric, elastomeric, orlatex material 330 comprises for example, an oil-, flame-, and/orheat-resistant polychloroprene that is dip-coated, such as a full dip, %dip, palm dip, etc., as discussed below. As shown, the glove 300comprises a knuckle dip, in which the polymeric, elastomeric, or latexmaterial 330 is disposed on the palm side of the glove 300 and on thetips of the fingers 304, 306, 308, 310 and the thumb 302. The polymeric,elastomeric, or latex material 330 can also provide grip properties tothe glove 300.

The glove 300 also optionally comprises the reversible flap 334 disposedthereon. In some embodiments of the invention, the reversible flap 334extends from an edge 333 from the glove 300, which is the side of theglove nearest the little finger 310. In some embodiments of theinvention, the reversible flap 334 extends from the edge of the glovenear the thumb 302 (not shown). In some embodiments of the invention,the reversible flap 334 is knitted and an integral part of the glove300. In this context, the term integral part indicates that thereversible flap 334 is knitted as part of the knitted liner 301 of theglove 300. The reversible flap 334 is capable of folding backward,providing an additional layer of protection to the back hand 318 of theglove 300. Also, if the user chooses, the reversible flap 334 optionallytraverses the palm (not shown) of the glove 300, providing additionalprotection for the palm area. In some embodiments of the invention, thereversible flap 334 comprises an upper portion 336, which forms anopening 338. The upper portion 336 provides additional surface area sothat it can protect from cuts, heat, flame, etc., more of the hand ofthe user. The opening 338 also allows the user to anchor or secure thereversible flap 334 on the thumb of the user, irrespective of whetherthe reversible flap 334 is worn protecting the palm or the backhand 318.In some embodiments, the reversible flap 334 may be secured to, forexample, the thumb area by hook and loop fasteners, such as a VELCRO®fastener. Also, in some embodiments, there is no need for a loop part ofthe fastener because the hooks may directly interface with the loops ofthe yarns from which the glove 300 is made, securing the reversible flap334 thereto. Also, the knitted liner 301 comprises a reversible flap 334disposed on a cuff 332 (not shown), wherein the reversible flap includesa fastener (not shown) capable of securing the reversible flap to thecuff, as described above, using hooks and loops fasteners or simplyhooks.

Programming instructions for knitting at least one exemplary embodimentof the invention, such as the knitted liner 301 having the reversibleflap 334, as in FIG. 6, using, e.g., a Shima-Seiki SWG model machine,are shown in Table 2.

FIG. 7 depicts a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 of areversible flap 334 of the glove 300 of FIG. 6, in accordance withembodiments of the invention. The reversible flap 334 may comprise oneor more layers. As shown, reversible flap 334 has two layers 340 and342. The layer 340 may comprise a cut-resistant yarn, such as KEVLAR®and the layer 342 a flame- and heat-resistant yarn, such as a yarncomprising an oxidized-polyacrylonitrile fiber, for example, CARBONX®.For the reversible flap 334 shown, the layer 342, if wrapped around thepalm area of the glove 300, would become closest to the hand, leavingthe layer 340 to the exterior. Where the layer 340 is exterior while onthe palm, at least one embodiment of the invention comprises where thelayer 340 is knitted from a cut-resistant yarn, thereby protecting thepalms from cuts as well as impact pressure. If reversible flap 334 wereto traverse the backhand 318 of the glove 300, the layer 342 would besituated on the exterior. Irrespective of how the glove 300 is knitted,the layers 340 and 342 of the reversible flap 334 may be knittedinterchangeably. In other words, different yarns may be incorporatedinto either the layer 340, 342 of the reversible flap 334. Thereversible flap 334 can therefore be specified for different needs. Forexample, if a high-heat job is being performed, it behooves the wearerto use a glove in which the heat-resistant yarn is exterior on thereversible flap 334 so as to protect the back of the hand from radiantheat and spatter.

In some embodiments according to the invention, the reversible flap 334has raised ridges knitted into the reversible flap by knitting over thesame area until the height of the ridge is built up, as is disclosed incommonly-assigned U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/598,134,which was filed on Feb. 13, 2012, and is incorporated by reference inits entirety. Ridges of this type provide additional grip while on thepalm side as well as providing an insulating effect from heat as lesssurface area of the glove contacts the hot metal. If the ridges aredisposed on the back hand side, additional cut- and impact-resistance isimparted to the glove.

FIG. 8 depicts a glove 400, in accordance with embodiments of theinvention. The glove 400 comprises a liner 401, and includes a thumb402, an index finger 404, a middle finger 406, a ring finger 408, and alittle finger 410, knitted from a breathable, heat- and flame-resistantyarn. In some embodiments, the liner 401 is knitted from a carbonizedand/or oxidized polyacrylonitrile yarn (OPAN), or yarn blend includingOPAN, such as CARBONX®. The glove 400 also comprises an adjustable cuff414 and a gauntlet 412. As discussed below, the glove 400 furthercomprises a knit-writ style undersleeve, discussed below.

The liner 401 has a heat-resistant insulation 416 disposed on thebackhand side of the glove and a thumb-welt 424 disposed in the crotchbetween the thumb 402 and the index finger 404, which may be attached bysewing, adhesives, or otherwise attached. In some embodiments, thethumb-welt 424, which comprises leather or suede, which is optionallytextured for enhanced grip, is attached with a double-stitch of KEVLAR®threads. In some embodiments of the invention, a leather or suede patch420 is disposed in selected regions of the glove 400, such as by sewingor adhesives.

The glove 400 further comprises an index finger/trigger-finger 404designed for enhanced comfort, flexibility, and tactility. For example,an index finger 404, comprises a yarn of a lighter denier than otherregions of the glove, thus producing a glove in which the thickness ofthe liner 401 is not constant throughout the glove, even if the baseyarn is the same thickness. In some embodiments, the index finger 404may be only one-third the thickness of other regions of the liner 401.In other embodiments of the invention, the index finger 404 comprises ayarn that is both lighter and different than the rest of the liner.Moreover, a lighter denier yarn comprising the index finger may beplaited into the index finger 404.

FIG. 9 depicts a cross section taken along line 9-9 of the glove of FIG.8, in accordance with embodiments of the invention. FIG. 9 includes thedetail of a gauntlet 412 and an inner knit-writ undersleeve 428, whichis attached to the gauntlet 412 by a knitted portion 426. The knittedportion 426 is adhered to the gauntlet 412, which comprises, forexample, leather, suede, or cowhide, by stitching. The knitted portion426 and the knit-writ undersleeve 428 are knitted integrally with theliner 401. The knit-writ undersleeve 428 is designed to be stretchy andfit tightly but comfortably under the sleeve of the wearer. In someembodiments, the knit-writ undersleeve 428 comprises an elastic yarn,such as LYCRA® or SPANDEX®. The gauntlet 412 comprises a wider diameterso that it may fit comfortably over the sleeve of the wearer. Working inconjunction, the gauntlet 412 and the knit-writ undersleeve 428 keepspatter, burning embers of metal, “berries,” and other hot, particulatematter from entering the glove 400 or the shirtsleeve of the wearer,preventing burning the wearer. Importantly, embodiments of the inventioncomprising the gauntlet 412 and the knit-writ undersleeve 428 protectthe wearer during both overhead welding operations as well as when thehands of the welder are much lower and the wrists of the wearer areturned up, creating a versatile glove appropriate for all uses.

FIG. 10 depicts a cross section taken along line 10-10 of the crosssection of the glove 400 depicted in FIG. 9, in accordance withembodiments of the invention. FIG. 10 demonstrates that the knit-writundersleeve 428 is in the interior of the glove 400 and is shorter thanthe gauntlet 428. In other words, the knit-writ undersleeve 428 is tightagainst the wrist of the wearer and extends past the wrist while thegauntlet 428 extends much further towards the elbow of the wearer. Insome embodiments of the invention, the gauntlet 428 extends up to andpast the elbow of the wearer.

FIG. 11 depicts an overglove 500, in accordance with embodiments of theinvention. An overglove may be used, for example, as an additional layerof protection, temporarily disposed on another glove as a detachablecovering. An overglove can be particularly useful because of the ease ofdonning and doffing from another glove. For example, the overglove 500comprises a thumb 502, an index finger 504, and a middle finger 506 andan opening 514 for receiving one or more fingers 504, 506 and/or thumb502, and optionally, a truncated cuff 512. Also, an optional polymericcoating 510, such as a high-heat and/or flame resistant coating, may bedisposed thereon. Moreover, the overglove 500 may have a reversibleflap, as described above, for additional protection from hazards and/orto secure the overglove 500 to another glove or directly to thefingers/thumb of a wearer.

The overglove 500 may comprise a one-, two- or three-finger knittedoverglove, and further comprising a thumb. The overglove 500 comprisesheat-resistant yarns, cut-resistant yarns, and/or both yarns, similar toany liner or glove disclosed herein. In some embodiments of the presentinvention, a glove having both cut-resistant and heat-resistant yarnsmay have one layer in which some regions have one or the other yarn. Inother words, the overglove 500 may comprise, for example, an indexfinger 504 and a middle finger 506 knitted from a cut-resistant yarn anda thumb 502 knitted from a heat-resistant yarn or vice-versa. In yetsome other embodiments of the invention, both yarns are present in thesame region, for example by plaiting, as discussed below. For example,the overglove 500 may comprise a thumb 502 in which the thumb regionincludes a cut-resistant yarn plaited with a heat-resistant yarn and anindex finger 504 having only a cut-resistant or heat-resistant yarn. Anycombination of yarns in the finger, or thumb, whether a plaited layerand a non-plaited layers, and whether a single or double layer, ispossible. Also, the overglove 500 may be detachably placed over anyother glove or a bare hand. The knitted overglove 500 may, optionally,comprise any of the features of FIGS. 1-10, e.g., any yarns, anyvertically or horizontally knitted structures, and coating, fasteners,adjustable cuff, or any others features associated with the embodimentsindicated in FIGS. 1-10.

In any glove or liner disclosed herein, additional fabric layers may beplaited into the glove or liner, and can be knitted in several ways. Forexample, an additional layer can be formed by changing a main yarn to anadditional cut resistant yarn while varying stitch dimensions, forexample, yarn tension. The tension of the yarn may be varied byadjusting the tension of the yarn between a pinch roller and a knittinghead by computer control of a knitting machine, as is disclosed incommonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 7,434,422, which is incorporated byreference in its entirety. Stitch dimensions can also be controlled byvarying the depth of penetration of the knitting needle into the knittedglove, formed by a main yarn, and by casting off or picking upadditional stitches in a knitted course. An additional layer may also beformed by variable plaiting the additional cut resistant yarn on top ofthe main yarn while varying the tension of the plaited cut resistantyarn. Liners may be formed with, for example and not by way oflimitation, the SWG, SFG-I and NSFG model machines of Shima Seiki Mfg.,Ltd. Substituting or plaiting one course at a certain tension forms aglove having additional cut resistance. Knitting two or more courses,such as three, four, five, etc., to as many as is practical, courses,provides a glove having an even greater density to the additional layer,thereby providing a glove having enhanced cut-resistance. Furthermore,some gloves or liners comprise a three-dimensional aspect. For example,regions may comprise tapered sections or variable thickness layers,bumpers, ridges, etc., or other structures on a knitted glove in az-direction with respect to the horizontally and vertically knittedcourses. Building up on a knitted course in a z-direction also provideszonal reinforcement in desired regions of the glove.

In some embodiments of the invention, the main body yarn compriseshighly stretching yarns, such as SPANDEX® or LYCRA®, which impartsstretchability for ease of donning, doffing, and comfort during use.Also, the main body yarn may comprise yarns capable of moisturemanagement, such as STA-COOL® polyesters, HYDROTEC®, AQUARIUS®, andDRYENERGY®. Such yarns have high wicking properties, which promote thetransfer of moisture away from wet or sweaty skin to less wet areas orto reservoirs for eventual storage and/or evaporation, technologies thatare disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No.61/571,569, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

All gloves in accordance with embodiments of the present invention maycomprise yarns having colors contrasting to each other. Where the colorof one region of the glove differs from another region, the user caneasily and visually identify the particular glove type, so that where aparticular glove is heat- and/or flame-resistant, cut-resistant, orother properties is known to the user.

All gloves in accordance with embodiments of the present inventiondisclosed in this application may comprise a polymeric, elastomeric, orlatex coating disposed on all or part of the gloves. Transparent ortranslucent coatings provide a glove in which the indicia provided bydifferent colored yarns, as discussed above, may still be known to theuser. Coatings may comprise natural or synthetic coatings or mixturesthereof. Any knitted liner may be coated with a material. For example, alatex coating may comprise a natural latex, such as guayule orpolyisoprene, synthetic latexes, such as synthetic polyisoprene,carboxylated acrylonitrile butadiene, non-carboxylated acrylonitrilebutadiene, butyl latex, polychloroprene, nitriles, aqueous- andnon-aqueous-polyurethanes, styrene-butadiene, acrylonitrile-butadiene,and the like, or mixtures thereof. The coating on liners can comprise apalm dip, knuckle dip, finger dip, three-quarters dip, full dip, and thelike as needed for specific applications using the dip processes asdescribed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 7,814,571, which isincorporated by reference in its entirety.

In some embodiments, knitted liners of any glove of the presentinvention may be dipped or sprayed with a coagulant, such as calciumnitrate and the like. The coagulant causes the polymeric coating to seton the fabric of the liner, preventing strikethrough of the coating.Also, gloves in accordance with embodiments of the invention may furthercomprise coatings that are foamed (open cell or closed cell) orunfoamed. Additionally, coatings may be built up in layers or in varyingthickness. The layers may comprise the same or different polymericmaterials. Additionally, the coatings may further comprise texturedsurfaces (not shown). Open cell and closed cell foamed layers and/ortextured coatings may impart additional friction during use, allowingsuperior gripability and safety properties, such as is disclosed incommonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 7,378,043, 7,771,644, and 8,001,809which are incorporated by reference in their entireties.

While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present invention,other embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing fromthe basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by theclaims that follow.

What is claimed is:
 1. A liner, comprising: a knitted liner having athumb portion and finger portions; and a reversible flap attached to theknitted liner; wherein the reversible flap is capable of traversing thepalm side or backhand side of the knitted liner and can be securedthereto.
 2. The liner of claim 1, wherein the reversible flap is knittedas an integral part of the knitted liner.
 3. The liner of claim 2,further comprising a reversible flap disposed on a cuff, wherein thereversible flap includes a fastener capable of securing the reversibleflap to the cuff.
 4. The liner of claim 1, further comprising an openingfor anchoring or securing the flap to the thumb portion or fingerportions.
 5. The liner of claim 1, wherein the reversible flap furthercomprises heat- and flame-resistant and cut-resistant yarns.
 6. Theliner of claim 1, wherein the reversible flap includes a first yarnlayer and a second yarn layer.
 7. The liner of claim 5, wherein thefirst yarn layer comprises a heat- and flame-resistant yarn and thesecond yarn layer comprises a cut-resistant yarn.
 8. The liner of claim1, further comprising a coating.
 9. The liner of claim 1, wherein theliner comprises a detachable overglove having a thumb and one-, two-, orthree-fingers.
 10. The liner of claim 1, wherein the knitted linerincludes one or more zones.
 11. The liner of claim 10, wherein the zoneshave knitted courses comprising loops knitted from at least one yarn.12. The liner of claim 11, wherein the loops are vertically disposedalong a longitudinal axis of the liner in at least one zone.
 13. Theliner of claim 12, wherein the loops are horizontally disposed along alongitudinal axis of the liner.
 14. The liner of claim 5, wherein thecoating comprises natural latex, guayule, polyisoprene, syntheticlatexes, non-carboxylated acrylonitrile butadiene, carboxylatedacrylonitrile butadiene, butyl latex, polychloroprene, polyurethane,styrene-butadiene, acrylonitrile-butadiene, nitriles, or blends thereof.15. A liner, comprising: a knitted liner comprising a flame- andheat-resistant fabric, the knitted liner in the shape of a glove havingan opening for receiving a hand; at least one patch of heat insulationattached to the knitted liner; an undersleeve attached to the knittedliner; and a gauntlet attached to the knitted liner, wherein theundersleeve is attached within the gauntlet and the undersleeve andgauntlet prevent foreign materials from entering the opening and harmingthe wearer of the liner.
 16. The liner of claim 15, further comprising athumb-welt.
 17. The liner of claim 15, further comprising a coatingdisposed on the knitted liner.
 18. The liner of claim 15, furthercomprising a reversible flap.
 19. The liner of claim 18, wherein thereversible flap is knitted as an integral part of the knitted liner. 20.The liner of claim 19, further comprising a heat insulating patchdisposed on the reversible flap.